Nickel Caps prepare for winner-take-all tourney

Bray Lafrance, right, of the Sudbury Wolves minor midgets, attempts to skate past Owen Jalbert, of the Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves, during Great North Midget League action at the Sudbury Community Arena in Sudbury, Ont. on Wednesday November 13, 2019. Nickel Capitals won 7-4.John Lappa/Sudbury Star/Postmedia Network

With the inaugural Great North Midget League Tournament of Champions fast approaching, the Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves could be hitting their stride at just the right time.

Owners of a 23-13-2-0 record, good for fourth overall, the Nickel Caps rode a four-game win streak from February into March, even winning two of three from the front-running Soo Junior Greyhounds, before dropping a hard-fought regular-season finale to the Kapuskasing Flyers, 5-3, this past Sunday.

They’ll be at the Flyers’ home rink for the championship tourney, marking the first time the GNML has decided a winner using such a format, this Thursday until Sunday.

“We have been playing very well,” said Brian Dickinson, Sudbury’s head coach. “We have been getting solid goaltending from both goalies and our defence has really been playing well. We took two out of three from the Soo two weekends ago and we were right in the game with Kap on Sunday, without a couple of major pieces in our lineup, so I think we have been doing exceptionally well.”

Not that playing short-handed is anything new for the Nickel Caps. Used to moving players up and down the lineup, they may now be better-equipped to deal with the injuries, such as the separated shoulder that will keep leading goal-scorer Skyler St. Pierre out of action for several weeks.

“Due to the fact that we have gone almost the whole season with nine forwards and five D, I have been able to put players in situations that they have probably never been in before,” Dickinson said. “And I think that’s where I have seen the biggest growth — we don’t have to rely on a couple of players. We have been having players chipping in on all aspects and it has been a real good sign.”

Sudbury begins its quest for a GNML title on Thursday at 4 p.m., with yet another tilt against the Junior Greyhounds. A gruelling Friday schedule will see the locals face host Kapuskasing at 1 p.m., then the New Liskeard Cubs at 5 p.m. Things won’t get any easier on Saturday, with games against North Bay at 9 a.m., then Timmins at 3 p.m., to cap the round-robin portion of the tournament.

Third- and fourth-place teams will meet for bronze on Sunday at 10 a.m., before first- and second-place squads battle for the championship, and a berth in the Telus Cup regional playdowns, at 1 p.m.

“You know what, I’m not sure what to expect, I won’t lie to you,” Dickinson said with a laugh. “We’re obviously looking to make the final, so you’re going to be playing six games in four days. We have a short turnaround on the Friday, so that’s going to be really tough. We have been stressing to the kids that now, you have to start thinking about rest and getting fluids and eating properly, and really resting your body, because this is something that none of us have any idea what’s going to transpire in the next little bit, and you have to hope for no injuries. It’s going to be interesting.”

While St. Pierre will miss the event, the Nickel Caps will actually benefit from the cancellation of international trips by local schools, due to concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Forward Bradey Smith and defenceman Owen Jalbert, who had been scheduled to travel overseas, will instead make the trek to Kapuskasing.

“That’s huge,” Dickinson said.

The team will also bring along four minor midget-aged players, as well as a pair who have spent most of the season at the AA level, bringing the roster to 11 forwards and seven defencemen.

“They have been playing with us the last couple of weeks, filling in, and they have done an incredible job, so we’re bringing them along with us.”